rma Archive

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  What Would Rod Say?

  
  
  
  This first anniversary of the National-led government is also the fourth anniversary of the death of former Green Party Co-Leader, Rod Donald. With the many retrospectives being written about the “new” government, my thoughts turn today to what Rod might have thought about the developments of the last year. There’s been commentary claiming the government hasn’t [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 5:33 pm - 68 Comments
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  Labour culpable on RMA chainsaw massacre

  
  
  
  The chainsaws are warming up for the first of October, as National’s rushed RMA deforms come into effect even earlier than originally proposed. What irks me no end is Labour’s Phil Twyford grandstanding on the axing of tree protection, when he and his Labour Party voted in favour of the very RMA changes he is complaining about. read more
  September 10, 2009 2:27 pm - 69 Comments
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  Fed Farmers to oppose RMA Amendment Bill?

  
  
  
  I have just read a press release from Federated Farmers opposing the ”streamlining” of electricity projects.  They are worried that this will remove the right of farmers to negotiate with Transpower when their land is used for power pylons.   Ironically, Fed Farmers has been one of the key lobby groups advocating for ”stream-lining” of the RMA consenting process, resulting in [...] read more
  March 19, 2009 1:39 pm - 5 Comments
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  National gags Pita Sharples: Maori deserve better

  
  
  
  Todays performance in the House has confirmed that the Minister of Maori Affairs, Pita Sharples is being locked out by the National Government from answering serious questions concerning Maori. My question today directly concerning Maori and their loss of rights under the RMA reforms was transferred by the government from the Maori Affairs Minister to the [...] read more
  March 11, 2009 6:17 pm - 4 Comments
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  Labour stole the foreshore from the Maoris; the Nats’ll hand it to the Rich

  
  
  
  What should we make of the decision of National to give my RMA/Conservation question about the coastal marine area to the Minister for Treaty Settlements? Well, its difficult to give a question to a Conservation Minister who has been MIA now for weeks and weeks. And I guess they wouldn’t want to give it to [...] read more
  March 10, 2009 5:35 pm - 42 Comments
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  It’s the elephant, not the money

  
  
  
  The media kerfuffle over Meridian’s secret ‘hush-money’ paid to DOC to supposedly silence its concerns with the Project Hayes wind farm is a little off the mark. While “following the money” is often a good maxim, in this case the elephant in the room is actually Government policy. Back in 2004, when the Labour Government began ‘Whole-of-Government’ [...] read more
  February 17, 2009 1:32 pm - 3 Comments
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  RMA reform roundup

  
  
  
  Yesterday the government announced its proposed reforms for the Resource Management Act (RMA). Personally, I was unimpressed, as it seemed to me that many of the so called reforms were mechanisms that already existed in the current legislation. It looked like a re-branding exercise. Most of the changes were actually tweaks to the existing regime, [...] read more
  February 4, 2009 4:02 pm - 39 Comments
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  Endosulfan Tip of the Toxic Iceberg

  
  
  
  It is a great day for worms, tomatoes and humans. The toxic pesticide endosulfan has finally been banned. This seriously toxic chemical was banned in 55 countries but 18 Councils around Aotearoa have been using it regularly on sports fields to kill worms that made bumps in the turf. Tomato and citrus growers have been [...] read more
  December 16, 2008 5:46 pm - 15 Comments
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  Hide against the people going to court

  
  
  
  Rodney Hide on Morning Report this morning has nailed his colours to the mast . He has come out for restricting the rights of ordinary citizens to appeal decisions of consent panels. Here’s what he said: Allowing just any Tom Dick and Harry to appeal something [to the environment court] is a recipe for endless debate [...] read more
  December 11, 2008 10:06 am - 105 Comments